Nambour CBD Creative Renewal: Activating the Night-Time Economy

The Context

For regional centres like Nambour, the “night-time economy” is often hampered by poor lighting and a perception of disjointed safety. The town required a strategic intervention to shift the public realm from a transit corridor into a destination that felt safe, vibrant, and welcoming after dark.

Funded by a grant from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, the challenge was to deliver a city-wide program of creative infrastructure that would tangibly increase foot traffic and improve safety perceptions across multiple precincts.

The Collaboration

POMO acted as the lead consultant managing the entire lifecycle from community engagement to final handover. We coordinated a complex web of stakeholders, including state and federal authorities, private landholders, and a curated team of specialists and regional artists.

The Engagement

We proposed a range of creative ideas in the public realm which met the terms of the grant, including three pieces of public art and identified five locations for the installation of artistic lighting. In total eight interventions were planned.

POMO commenced by running a community engagement process that brought locals into the decision making process and allowed them to have a say in what outcomes they wanted to see in their town. This engagement program exceeded expectations and gathered nearly 50% more responses than anticipated through face to face and online modes.

POMO facilitated a rigorous selection and curatorial process for the creation of three items of public art which was backed by council and saw artists invited to pitch for the work. A stakeholder voting panel chose the final artists and the community were given a say in the final works via an engagement portal and face to face pop ups run by volunteers.

Delivering Nambour CBD Renewal: The Implementation Process

Our role was to bridge the gap between grant funding criteria and on-ground construction. We moved beyond simple curation to design and manage the engineering, electrical, and fabrication requirements of eight distinct interventions.

Complex Project Management & Public Tenders

Delivering works across private, council, and state-owned land required navigating complex leasing agreements and site access constraints. POMO managed the public tender process for the electrical and lighting works, handling contractual appointments and ensuring strict adherence to budget and timeline.

Technical Lighting Infrastructure

We delivered high-specification lighting solutions designed for longevity and interactivity. Key installations included:

  • Old Ambo Arts Centre: A custom façade-mounted LED system that remains invisible by day but runs programmed movement sequences at night, featuring a “party mode” for events.
  • Petrie Creek Bridge: We engineered custom steel rails housing flood-proof colour-changing LEDs, turning a functional bridge into a safe, illuminated entry statement.
  • Lions Park & Murals: Strategic architectural lighting was installed to highlight existing heritage murals and natural assets, integrating technology with the urban canopy.

Engineering Creative Interventions

We facilitated a rigorous design-to-delivery process for major creative infrastructure that was artist created. This included the “Bunya Nut” (fabricated from reclaimed railway pins) and “Fire in the Heart” (featuring heartbeat-responsive lighting). POMO managed the structural engineering, disability compliance, and integration of lighting systems, ensuring these bespoke elements met all WH&S standards for public interaction.These elements were made by local artists, one under a mentorship arrangement.

The Impact

The project was successfully handed over in December 2022, delivering a measurable uplift in the town’s visual appeal and safety. By combining smart technology with culturally relevant narratives, the program has created a “sticky” night-time environment that encourages visitation.

The use of energy-efficient LED technology and reclaimed materials ensured the project met high sustainability targets, while the commissioning of local artists injected direct economic value into the regional creative sector.

Sustainability Outcomes

Social Sustainability Outcomes

  • Enhanced Public Safety and Night-time Economy: The primary goal of using creative lighting is to make the CBD feel safer and more welcoming after dark. This encourages more people to visit in the evening, increasing foot traffic for local businesses and fostering a more vibrant night-time economy.
  • Deep Community Ownership and Engagement: The project’s success was built on a robust community engagement plan that exceeded participation targets. By involving locals in decision-making and having a stakeholder panel with community members vote on the final artists, the program ensures the outcomes are genuinely desired by and reflect the values of the residents, leading to a strong sense of ownership.
  • Celebration of Local Identity and Culture: The commissioned artworks are deeply rooted in Nambour’s identity. The “Bunya Nut” sculpture, for example, tells stories of local sugar cane history and Indigenous food sources, while other pieces are interactive and playful. This public art reinforces the unique character of the town and celebrates its heritage.
  • Supports the Local Creative Economy: The program provided significant opportunities for local and regional artists through a formal commissioning process. This directly invests in the local creative sector, providing income and a high-profile platform for artists to showcase their talents, which helps to retain creative professionals in the region.
  • Cultural Inclusivity: The specific consultation with local First Nations representatives for the “Bunya Nut” sculpture demonstrates a commitment to cultural sustainability. It ensures that Indigenous stories are told accurately and respectfully, contributing to a more inclusive and culturally aware public space.

Environmental Sustainability Outcomes

  • Energy-Efficient Technology: The use of modern, programmable LED lighting for the artistic installations is an inherently sustainable choice. LEDs consume significantly less energy than traditional lighting technologies, reducing the overall operational carbon footprint of the CBD’s public lighting.
  • Highlighting Natural Assets: The project in Lions Park uses coloured lights to illuminate existing fig trees. This approach enhances the urban environment by integrating technology with natural assets, celebrating the town’s green spaces and potentially increasing appreciation for the urban canopy without requiring new construction.
  • Use of Reclaimed Materials: The “Bunya Nut” sculpture is a clear example of upcycling, as it was fabricated from reclaimed railway pins. This practice diverts industrial waste from landfill, avoids the environmental impact of producing new steel, and creatively embeds a piece of local industrial history into the artwork itself.

Contact POMO to discuss how we can manage your next creative infrastructure grant from application to installation.



Read next: Nambour Community Revitalisation

Bunya Nut
by Finn Cossar and Miles Allen

Field of Vision
by Petalia Humphreys

Fire in the Heart
by Simone Eisler

Interactive facade lighting installation
The Old Ambo Arts Centre

Colour changing lights
Petrie Creek Bridge

Mural lighting
Clarks Centre

Mural lighting
Nambour Transit Centre

Colour changing lights
Lions Park

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